CSUMB Maestros Project held panel discussion concerning anti-blackness in SUHSD schools
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) The CSUMB Maestros Project held a panel discussion with educators and local high school students addressing ways that educators can intervene when racial incidents occur.
The group's mission is to build a diverse, culturally sustaining, and anti-racist teacher workforce that transforms our schools and communities.
The panel is the first step in solutions in an attempt to address racism at Salinas High School after a doll incident. Students were seen pictured with a Black baby doll they named "Shaniqua." One teacher and founder of the district's Black Girl Magic Club felt that young black girls took the brunt of the incident.
"My girls were literally just minding their own business existing and became targets out of nowhere,” said Jordana Henry, Founder of SUHSD Black Girl Magic Club.
The moderator asked several questions to the panel of educators including how to address racism among students. Everyone in the panel agreed in continuing to pressure the school to address anti-black sentiments.
"This is at the level where they have to respond to it, right, but that doesn’t mean that like pressure needs to subside. I think pressure needs to continue building because... we’re already seeing the counter organizing against that," said Mark Gomez, HSS Curriculum Specialist at SUHSD.
Henry emphasizes the importance of being open to these discussions within our own communities.
"It has to be rooted in learning you know to some degree, not only do our students need to learn but our community, our parents within our community need to learn as well," said Henry.
